| Why Ashton needs to go... 09:57 - Mar 31 with 5230 views | mrshallisfit |
What we have now is a disunited fanbase. That has been ripped open by Ashton and it cant be repaired. We all realise when we go to a game that the 29000 or so around us that we have different opinions than each other. I hear the Reform based chants. I hear the knuckle dragging comments on a regular basis. I have the seething contempt for people's apathy and people's bigotry. But I try to ignore it all and hope my club helps me to forget it all by whipping me away into an alternative world of one agenda: ITFC. Most of the time this season at home the players have done that successfully.
What Ashton has now done is created, in such a poorly timed way, a huge divide between fans that someways can never be healed. Its the same gap that occurs across society day to day.
So what to do for the immediate? There should be a protest on the day. Before the match perhaps in central town and then at the club but positioned to avoid the bus route of the players. That protest should be suspended about 45 mins before kick-off and then resumed straight after the match, hopefully in even bigger numbers.
Of course I want the players protected as much as possible, but if we are to believe various statements they are angry as well.
If you don't want any protest against Ashton because (a) you cant be arsed (b) or even worse you think Ashton was right and the club should be linked with Reform - then that shows the divide there is amongst fans anyway. I for example wouldn't want to share one micro-seconds oxygen with you for the rest of my life, as I have complete contempt for you.
I suppose that is the wonder of football. It brings together many various and varied people together under one shared experience. Our chairman has decided to blaze a floodlight onto these differences at just the worst moment, creating the perfect opposite of what he always said he wanted to achieve - fan togetherness. Of course, he did not do that deliberately. His actions were blinded by his raw undiluted ego.
I have been going to Portman Road for nearly 48 years and Ashton wont stop me going in the future. However, whilst he is in charged I don't feel the same about the club. I know its futile in some ways but I haven't worn anything ITFC related since the events of last week. I have been ashamed since then to be a supporter. That's why I will continue to protest against his presence till the moment he has gone. Any right-thinking fan with some kind of fucntioning moral compass should do the same. [Post edited 31 Mar 9:58]
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:12 - Mar 31 with 655 views | lazyblue |
Ashton in
Divide and issues being caused by so called fans not able to let it go. | | | |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:13 - Mar 31 with 647 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 13:36 - Mar 31 by Rimsy |
Get over it for God's sake. Be crazy to get rid of Ashton, who has arguably done more for the club than McK. He's made one error of judgement in 4 years or so and everyone wants him crucified. |
All that he has done for the club has been underpinned by the ethos of having the right ethic and the little things matter.
And yet you, and supposedly the majority of fans, claim that what he has done should be ignored.
It isn't just the politicising of the club. It isn't just which party he has aligned us with. It is about misuse of his position to do these things against the club's stated policies. It is lying about this. It is issuing a meaningless general apology for the upset this has caused (note: not for doing it) framed within a "but there are a lot of mistruths out there."
You might feel he has done one small mistake. I feel he has done far worse than other members of staff have been kicked out of the club for. Is that the ethos we want the club to promote. One rule for the manager and players, another for the CEO/Chairman? |  |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:14 - Mar 31 with 643 views | Tambu |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 14:51 - Mar 31 by TheMoralMajority |
You seem to also be assuming that people who want Ashton gone are the same people who wanted Evans and Sheepy gone before him.
I think the circumstances around Sheepy were very difficult. He brought me more success than I had seen in my (remembered) lifetime, I was very sad when he went (rightly or wrongly).
By the time Evans went, I was entirely apathetic.
I also never hounded GB or Jim (and I think the way Jim was treated was disgraceful).
I still want Ashton to go though. I can't abide dishonesty. |
I'm not assuming anything, I am looking at the pool of fans and observing that they will never be united and the more vocal start movements that sometimes aren't the best ideas in hindsight. I come from more of a Cobbold stand point. There isn't a problem until the drinks cabinet looks dry. |  |
| I love ITFC, but a large number of the fans are bellends |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:17 - Mar 31 with 638 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:08 - Mar 31 by Tambu |
Or if he did, there wasn't a photo opportunity and social media campaign that accompanied it. |
You missed off which he then lied about and gave a vague meaningless apology for.
And I am a little confused, are you suggesting Sheepshanks did publically give ITFC's backing for the LibDem campaign but without the pictures or are you now coming round to the idea that Ashton has made a major gaffe after all? | |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:17 - Mar 31 with 636 views | WolfieAtTheBack |
''Our superpower is the people" - Ipswich Town CEO Mark Ashton
Don't mess with superpowers. | | | |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:18 - Mar 31 with 629 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:12 - Mar 31 by lazyblue |
Ashton in
Divide and issues being caused by so called fans not able to let it go. |
Why do you chip in with this sort of soundbite but refuse to answer any question put to you?
Are you happy our club is sponsoring a racist? | |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:27 - Mar 31 with 595 views | ZedRodgers |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 14:51 - Mar 31 by TheMoralMajority |
You seem to also be assuming that people who want Ashton gone are the same people who wanted Evans and Sheepy gone before him.
I think the circumstances around Sheepy were very difficult. He brought me more success than I had seen in my (remembered) lifetime, I was very sad when he went (rightly or wrongly).
By the time Evans went, I was entirely apathetic.
I also never hounded GB or Jim (and I think the way Jim was treated was disgraceful).
I still want Ashton to go though. I can't abide dishonesty. |
Yep, this is probably the first time I’ve genuinely wanted someone out. Whenever things have turned toxic in the past, I’ve always hoped there might be a way back, and more often than not I’ve found myself in the minority for not reaching straight for the pitchfork. I even gave Mick and a couple of the Pauls far longer than they probably deserved, and I’ve never really believed that actively hounding someone out achieves much good.
This feels completely different to me. It’s an act of such clear and brazen incompetence that I just don’t see any route back from it, and the longer it drags on, the more damage it does.
And while I get that there’s a growing (and not especially helpful) contingent telling everyone to just move on, this actually feels like one of those rare moments (whether in ITFC, politics, or anything else) where I do find myself in a broader popular front. |  |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:30 - Mar 31 with 584 views | positivity |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:12 - Mar 31 by lazyblue |
Ashton in
Divide and issues being caused by so called fans not able to let it go. |
the only division is coming from the same 3 or 4 saying "ashton in"... | |
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| Why Ashton looks like sh1te warmed up on 18:35 - Mar 31 with 494 views | WeWereZombies |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:18 - Mar 31 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Why do you chip in with this sort of soundbite but refuse to answer any question put to you?
Are you happy our club is sponsoring a racist? |
I don't think the Club is sponsoring a racist, Fartrage tricked his way in as far as I can see (with the aid of this shady Pearce character according to some reports) and an uncharacteristically gullible Ashton got pranked...maybe. Ashton's haggard appearance in that not quite an apology video looks like that of someone who wished he had never seen or heard of Fartrage, let alone dined with him. And, anyway, Ashton is not the Club but does represent an important facet of the Club...at the moment. [Post edited 31 Mar 18:48]
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 18:58 - Mar 31 with 464 views | grow_our_own |
| Why Ashton looks like sh1te warmed up on 18:35 - Mar 31 by WeWereZombies |
I don't think the Club is sponsoring a racist, Fartrage tricked his way in as far as I can see (with the aid of this shady Pearce character according to some reports) and an uncharacteristically gullible Ashton got pranked...maybe. Ashton's haggard appearance in that not quite an apology video looks like that of someone who wished he had never seen or heard of Fartrage, let alone dined with him. And, anyway, Ashton is not the Club but does represent an important facet of the Club...at the moment. [Post edited 31 Mar 18:48]
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Zombies, I expected better from you. I don't doubt Ashton regrets the events of last week now, but not that he thinks he's responsible for them. He admitted no wrongdoing on his part, and that's not realistic.
"tricked his way in as far as I can see (with the aid of this shady Pearce" - do you really think Ashton rocks-up to the Chairman's suite, and to his shock, finds the next Prime Minister of the UK (possibly) happens to be sitting there? Visits like that need planning and sign-off at most senior level in an org, not just Pearce. I wonder how the BBC got a story where a former BBC spin-doctor takes a bullet for Ashton? Pearce probably dictated much of it himself.
Shirts signed "Dear Mark", suggest he signed off spending our club revenue promoting Reform.
If Ashton really had little/no involvement, and it was all Pearce or "the club", then why didn't he clear his name, or reveal the "mistruths" given the opportunity. Pure Trumpian "fake news" narrative without actually explaining what's fake. [Post edited 31 Mar 21:13]
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:05 - Mar 31 with 433 views | ITFCson |
He needs to go for your benefit it seems, for your ideology. Many are happy for him to stay and continue with the good job he has been doing.
You do realise that this has became bigger news because of the meltdown from some of our fans? You do realise that you are part of the problem? It has been picked up more by the media because of the fanbase over reaction. If the team starts to suffer because of this it will be on you, not that any of you would ever acknowledge that and maybe in fairness you may not even be aware.
And for reference I am not a supporter of NF. | | | |
| Why Ashton needs to resign with as much gravitas as he can muster on 19:13 - Mar 31 with 416 views | WeWereZombies |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 18:58 - Mar 31 by grow_our_own |
Zombies, I expected better from you. I don't doubt Ashton regrets the events of last week now, but not that he thinks he's responsible for them. He admitted no wrongdoing on his part, and that's not realistic.
"tricked his way in as far as I can see (with the aid of this shady Pearce" - do you really think Ashton rocks-up to the Chairman's suite, and to his shock, finds the next Prime Minister of the UK (possibly) happens to be sitting there? Visits like that need planning and sign-off at most senior level in an org, not just Pearce. I wonder how the BBC got a story where a former BBC spin-doctor takes a bullet for Ashton? Pearce probably dictated much of it himself.
Shirts signed "Dear Mark", suggest he signed off spending our club revenue promoting Reform.
If Ashton really had little/no involvement, and it was all Pearce or "the club", then why didn't he clear his name, or reveal the "mistruths" given the opportunity. Pure Trumpian "fake news" narrative without actually explaining what's fake. [Post edited 31 Mar 21:13]
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Well that's your take on these events, I have suspicions that are a bit different. Let us be clear who the real villain is here, Farage is the one who has tried to drag the name and image of our Club through the mud. Live Saville he is a skilled media manipulator who can play an out of their depth (in this public arena) character like Ashton like a puppet. If there had been a Chairman in place who Ashton was answerable to then I hope at least a phone call would have been lodged to them by Ashton and he would have been told that good corporate governance forbade anything other than a regular stadium tour to Reform (sic) representatives.
So, just as Jim so horribly fixed things and Trump had that motto under his Presidential campaign rostrum too, Farage fixed Ashton. It's a stain that is going to be hard for the Chief Executive Officer, and the Chief Operating Officer, to remove. If the Club can find a way for them to leave with some dignity intact and for a better identity to be established going forward I think that is the best we can hope for. [Post edited 31 Mar 19:17]
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:16 - Mar 31 with 401 views | mrshallisfit |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:12 - Mar 31 by lazyblue |
Ashton in
Divide and issues being caused by so called fans not able to let it go. |
Or perhaps having standards regarding morals and decency. | | | |
| Why Ashton needs to resign with as much gravitas as he can muster on 19:19 - Mar 31 with 382 views | mrshallisfit |
| Why Ashton needs to resign with as much gravitas as he can muster on 19:13 - Mar 31 by WeWereZombies |
Well that's your take on these events, I have suspicions that are a bit different. Let us be clear who the real villain is here, Farage is the one who has tried to drag the name and image of our Club through the mud. Live Saville he is a skilled media manipulator who can play an out of their depth (in this public arena) character like Ashton like a puppet. If there had been a Chairman in place who Ashton was answerable to then I hope at least a phone call would have been lodged to them by Ashton and he would have been told that good corporate governance forbade anything other than a regular stadium tour to Reform (sic) representatives.
So, just as Jim so horribly fixed things and Trump had that motto under his Presidential campaign rostrum too, Farage fixed Ashton. It's a stain that is going to be hard for the Chief Executive Officer, and the Chief Operating Officer, to remove. If the Club can find a way for them to leave with some dignity intact and for a better identity to be established going forward I think that is the best we can hope for. [Post edited 31 Mar 19:17]
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But Ashton shouldn't be out of his depth. What has driven him/blinded him is a mixture of his inflated ego and/or his political leanings towards Reform. | | | |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:20 - Mar 31 with 379 views | TheMoralMajority |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 15:14 - Mar 31 by Tambu |
I'm not assuming anything, I am looking at the pool of fans and observing that they will never be united and the more vocal start movements that sometimes aren't the best ideas in hindsight. I come from more of a Cobbold stand point. There isn't a problem until the drinks cabinet looks dry. |
That's true of the wider world, is it not? I would love us all to live in some kind of utopian bliss, but it just isn't reality.
The best I can do is make my feelings heard, read the room, and try to engage with those who have different opinions from myself. Maybe I will learn something, maybe they will learn something. Maybe we will just end up fundamentally disagreeing.
I do think it is important to stand up for what you believe in, but also recognise that it may not be what someone else believes in. I happen to believe I am on the right side of this debate, but would be more than happy to be persuaded of the opposite, because up until last week, everything was rosy in Moral's ITFC world.
Of course, not everyone wants to engage in debate in good faith, but I can only impact what I can change. |  |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:32 - Mar 31 with 350 views | TheMoralMajority |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:05 - Mar 31 by ITFCson |
He needs to go for your benefit it seems, for your ideology. Many are happy for him to stay and continue with the good job he has been doing.
You do realise that this has became bigger news because of the meltdown from some of our fans? You do realise that you are part of the problem? It has been picked up more by the media because of the fanbase over reaction. If the team starts to suffer because of this it will be on you, not that any of you would ever acknowledge that and maybe in fairness you may not even be aware.
And for reference I am not a supporter of NF. |
I have no idea if you are an NF supporter or not and, honestly, your politics do not concern me at all. It is completely your right to support whoever you see fit. A football club is definitely not the place for this kind of thing. It is for supporting the team that we all want to see succeed.
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This became a big news story far before the fans became involved. My wider issue has nothing to do with politics (although the fact that people want to spin it around to politics really demonstrates what a hideously poor idea this all was, regardless of the particular politician or party involved).
My issue was that we, as fans, were lied to. We were gaslit, we were lied to again. And then, when it was clear that the lies could go on no longer (an international newspaper, had receipts, and went to press), we received an apology that admitted no accountability, no culpability and did not actually apologise for anything at all.
An apology for nothing is no apology at all.
For me, as a fan, the trust in our leadership has been completely broken. The club could, and should have got in front of this. They have done so much good work over the last 4 years and to blow it all up in this way is heartbreaking. I really, really wish none of this had ever happened.
But it has. And it has destroyed my faith in this leadership and questions still need to be answered. I do not believe, in any way, that this is the fan's fault, and I think they, like the team and the manager, are entirely blameless.
I completely accept that you do not feel the same way, as is your right, however I do not feel the need to attack you for your opinion.
I hope you can try to see my (and other people's) point of view whilst realising this is not political, and none of us want to cause damage to the club. But respect is a two-way street.
I will continue to give the team my 100% support, much like I am sure you will. We all just want what is best for Ipswich Town Football Club [Post edited 31 Mar 19:39]
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:54 - Mar 31 with 316 views | ZedRodgers |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:05 - Mar 31 by ITFCson |
He needs to go for your benefit it seems, for your ideology. Many are happy for him to stay and continue with the good job he has been doing.
You do realise that this has became bigger news because of the meltdown from some of our fans? You do realise that you are part of the problem? It has been picked up more by the media because of the fanbase over reaction. If the team starts to suffer because of this it will be on you, not that any of you would ever acknowledge that and maybe in fairness you may not even be aware.
And for reference I am not a supporter of NF. |
Where to even start with this?
Blaming people for talking about something as outrageous as this is like having a go at a smoke alarm for making the fire worse while you’re busy polishing the arsonist’s boots with your tongue. The noise isn’t the problem mate. | |
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| Why Ashton needs to resign with as much gravitas as he can muster on 20:00 - Mar 31 with 294 views | SWLondonBlue93 |
| Why Ashton needs to resign with as much gravitas as he can muster on 19:19 - Mar 31 by mrshallisfit |
But Ashton shouldn't be out of his depth. What has driven him/blinded him is a mixture of his inflated ego and/or his political leanings towards Reform. |
Totally agree. If Ashton and/or the club had been in any way hoodwinked by Reform, or there were "mistruths" in how it had been reported, we would have seen the evidence for it by now. The simplest explanation is Ashton has used his position at the club to get a meeting with a politician he supports, and is using their tactics in an attempt to brush it away. [Post edited 31 Mar 20:00]
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:01 - Mar 31 with 290 views | lazyblue |
Players are not angry stop trying to aggravate it even more for your little protest, wokies love a protest.
Move on or stay away as some of us want to watch and enjoy our football. | | | |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:07 - Mar 31 with 277 views | positivity |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:01 - Mar 31 by lazyblue |
Players are not angry stop trying to aggravate it even more for your little protest, wokies love a protest.
Move on or stay away as some of us want to watch and enjoy our football. |
how do you know players aren't angry?
it's very likely that they were part of the staff complaining to hr, particularly given farage's xenophobic view of ethnic minorities, muslims and albanians. | |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:11 - Mar 31 with 255 views | TheMoralMajority |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:01 - Mar 31 by lazyblue |
Players are not angry stop trying to aggravate it even more for your little protest, wokies love a protest.
Move on or stay away as some of us want to watch and enjoy our football. |
I know you are more interested in lobbing hand grenades and running away, but in the unlikely event you do actually wish to engage, here are 2 sources of evidence that would dispute your assertion.
Protest by PhilTWTD 29 Mar 14:56The players were and probably still are furious about all this, as you'd imagine they'd be having had shirts with their names on appearing in videos promoting Reform without their knowledge. And it's certainly not about 'left-wing views', plenty of people who would put themselves on the right on here and elsewhere are unhappy with the association of their club with Reform.
Farage’s visit was openly discussed among the first-team players when they convened for training at their Playford Road base, several querying how he had been allowed to project himself from areas that are sacrosanct to them on a matchday. A diverse, particularly engaged squad was left unimpressed. It is the last thing Kieran McKenna needs, or deserves, as Ipswich prepare for an eight-game sprint towards promotion next month. Errors of this gravity touch every area of a club.
https://www.theguardian.com/fo
Care to counter? | |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:17 - Mar 31 with 232 views | ITFCson |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 19:32 - Mar 31 by TheMoralMajority |
I have no idea if you are an NF supporter or not and, honestly, your politics do not concern me at all. It is completely your right to support whoever you see fit. A football club is definitely not the place for this kind of thing. It is for supporting the team that we all want to see succeed.
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This became a big news story far before the fans became involved. My wider issue has nothing to do with politics (although the fact that people want to spin it around to politics really demonstrates what a hideously poor idea this all was, regardless of the particular politician or party involved).
My issue was that we, as fans, were lied to. We were gaslit, we were lied to again. And then, when it was clear that the lies could go on no longer (an international newspaper, had receipts, and went to press), we received an apology that admitted no accountability, no culpability and did not actually apologise for anything at all.
An apology for nothing is no apology at all.
For me, as a fan, the trust in our leadership has been completely broken. The club could, and should have got in front of this. They have done so much good work over the last 4 years and to blow it all up in this way is heartbreaking. I really, really wish none of this had ever happened.
But it has. And it has destroyed my faith in this leadership and questions still need to be answered. I do not believe, in any way, that this is the fan's fault, and I think they, like the team and the manager, are entirely blameless.
I completely accept that you do not feel the same way, as is your right, however I do not feel the need to attack you for your opinion.
I hope you can try to see my (and other people's) point of view whilst realising this is not political, and none of us want to cause damage to the club. But respect is a two-way street.
I will continue to give the team my 100% support, much like I am sure you will. We all just want what is best for Ipswich Town Football Club [Post edited 31 Mar 19:39]
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I do actually respect your opinion, and it is only my opinion that if some feel action is needed then we should do our utmost to wait until after the season has ended and in the meantime we put 100% of our focus and energy into supporting the team on the pitch.
Like you I wish this had never happened. | | | |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:21 - Mar 31 with 222 views | TheMoralMajority |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:17 - Mar 31 by ITFCson |
I do actually respect your opinion, and it is only my opinion that if some feel action is needed then we should do our utmost to wait until after the season has ended and in the meantime we put 100% of our focus and energy into supporting the team on the pitch.
Like you I wish this had never happened. |
Thank you for replying reasonably, very few do!
I don't agree about waiting until the end of the season, I think that pressure needs to be continued to be applied until we get something, anything out of the club.
However, I think this needs to be done carefully, and with consideration on how it may impact on the team and on other fans who do not necessarily share the view. For me, at least, that would mean keeping it out of the stands. Hopefully sensible heads will prevail.
TBH, I would not be surprised if MA wasn't even there on Monday!
Here's to 3 points over Easter! | |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:22 - Mar 31 with 209 views | positivity |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:21 - Mar 31 by TheMoralMajority |
Thank you for replying reasonably, very few do!
I don't agree about waiting until the end of the season, I think that pressure needs to be continued to be applied until we get something, anything out of the club.
However, I think this needs to be done carefully, and with consideration on how it may impact on the team and on other fans who do not necessarily share the view. For me, at least, that would mean keeping it out of the stands. Hopefully sensible heads will prevail.
TBH, I would not be surprised if MA wasn't even there on Monday!
Here's to 3 points over Easter! |
given that it'll take a while to replace him, i think he needs to go now, so we don't waste the summer transfer window again | |
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| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:23 - Mar 31 with 206 views | pointofblue |
| Why Ashton needs to go... on 20:17 - Mar 31 by ITFCson |
I do actually respect your opinion, and it is only my opinion that if some feel action is needed then we should do our utmost to wait until after the season has ended and in the meantime we put 100% of our focus and energy into supporting the team on the pitch.
Like you I wish this had never happened. |
For me, if ther's any way to divide the playing squad from the board this is it. The players and playing staff deserve all the support they can get for the run it. But there needs to be a change at boardroom level.
The silence from the owners is infuriating me more as time goes on. | |
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